L’Oréal’s vision of the future of beauty is grounded in transparency, security, and green sciences. The French beauty group is committing to a more environmentally conscious beauty industry through a commitment to transforming Research and Innovation by adopting a “Green Sciences” approach. By 2030, 95% of ingredients the company uses in its products will be derived from renewable plant sources, abundant minerals, or circular processes; and 100% of formulas will be respectful of the aquatic environment.
This decision comes at a time when protecting the planet is no longer an option, it’s a necessity—and COVID-19 has increased consumer awareness and desire for products that are healthy and safe for the environment. It is against this backdrop that L’Oréal is opening a new chapter in Research and Innovation, focused on nature as the driving force in the creation of renewable alternatives to petroleum-based ingredients.
The Group will draw on recent advances in Green Sciences to enable the sustainable cultivation of ingredients and extract the best that nature has to offer through cutting-edge technological processes. Already by 2020, 80% of the Group’s raw materials are easily biodegradable, 59% are renewable, 34% are natural or of natural origin, and 29% of the ingredients used in L’Oréal formulas were developed according to the principles of Green Chemistry.
According to Nicolas Hieronimus, L’Oréal Deputy Chief Executive Officer, in charge of Divisions: “With Green Sciences we are entering a new chapter for L’Oréal Research & Innovation, which has been a key driving force behind the company since its creation. Our ambition is that by 2030 we will be able to offer women and men around the world increasingly effective, safe cosmetics that respect the environment.”
To achieve this transition, L’Oréal has rallied its full range of resources in Green Sciences, including recent advances in agronomics, together with new developments in biotechnology, Green Chemistry, formulation science, and modeling tools. The Group is also building a range of strategic partnerships with universities, start-ups, and its own raw-material suppliers.
Barbara Lavernos, Chief Research, Innovation and Technology Officer, reinforces: “Thanks to Green Sciences we are able to take up this ambitious scientific and technical challenge. This virtuous, circular economy-based approach will allow us to achieve new levels of performance and discover unprecedented cosmetic benefits without compromising on quality or safety, in the service of beauty that is respectful of the planet.
L’Oréal remains committed to transparency and the creation of initiatives to further improve information and dialogue with consumers, empowering them to make choices that reflect their values. Its “Inside Our Products” website is representative of this transparency pledge. Launched in March of 2019, the site answers questions from the public about the ingredients used in formulas and the composition of its products. The platform covers nearly 1,000 listed ingredients and is now available across 45 countries in eight languages. Built on scientific advances, this content is being rolled out incrementally across the websites of leading Group brands.
